* Send AROUND TOWN items to...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St.,

Costa Mesa, CA 92627; by fax to (949) 646-4170; or by calling (949)

574-4298. Include the time, date and location of the event, as well

as a contact phone number. A complete listing is available at

www.dailypilot.com.

TODAY

Body Design will offer, for the

first time, a class on the Nia Technique at 10 a.m. at Body Design

in Newport Beach. The Nia Technique is a gentle, graceful and

powerful cardiovascular movement that focuses on awakening and

empowering your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual selves. The

Nia Technique is beneficial for all ages and fitness levels. Body

Design is at 100 Newport Center Drive. (949) 722-3555 or

www.bodydesign.tv.

SEPTEMBER 8

The 41st annual Sandcastle

Contest will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Big Corona del Mar

Beach. All registered participants will receive one free round-trip

ticket to Catalina. The event, sponsored by the Commodores Club of

the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, will consist of four

categories. The fee is $30 for the family and organization

categories, $40 for the business category and $60 for the masters

category. Teams may not exceed eight people. Entries must be received

before Sept. 6. (949) 729-4400.

SEPTEMBER 10

Mother’s Market and Kitchen will host a seminar on the power of

hyaluronic acid from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Patio Cafe in Costa

Mesa. The cafe is at 225 E. 17th St. Free. (949) 631-4741.

SEPTEMBER 12

The Thursday Morning Women’s Club will hold its first luncheon at

noon at the Radisson Hotel in Newport Beach. Entertainment will be

provided by Stephen Plummer, the Los Angeles Opera understudy for

Placido Domingo. The hotel is at 4545 Macarthur Blvd. $23. (714)

842-5863.

SEPTEMBER 14

The Costa Mesa Historical

Society will host an event with speakers Paul Apodaca of Chapman

University and Edith Behrens of the Bowers Museum from 10 a.m. to 3

p.m. at the Diego Sepulveda Adobe Open House in Estancia Park. The

speakers are scheduled at noon and 2 p.m. The park is at 1900 Adams

Blvd. Free. (949) 631-5918.

SEPTEMBER 15

The acoustic sounds of

Buzzworld will fill the Newport Beach Central Library at 3 p.m.

with a live program titled “Music of the Mandolin.” The electric band

will perform its usual blend of traditional, jazz, art, rock and

sundry world music with lively Celtic influences. The library is at

1000 Avocado Avenue. Free. (949) 717-3801 or

www.newportbeachlibrary.org.

SEPTEMBER 17

The Costa Mesa Senior Center will host a public luncheon with the

five candidates running for City Council positions, from noon to

12:45 p.m. at the center. The group’s monthly membership meeting will

follow at 1:30 p.m., at which time the candidates will be introduced

and members will have the chance to ask questions of the candidates

and their issues. The discussion will be monitored by Daily Pilot

Managing Editor S.J. Cahn. The center is at 695 W. 19th St. Call for

lunch reservations. (949) 645-2356.

A seminar on how to stay young at heart will be held from 6:30 to

7:30 p.m. at the Patio Cafe in Costa Mesa. The seminar, which is

hosted by Mother’s Market & Kitchen, is free and open to the public.

The cafe is at 225 E. 17th St. (949) 631-4741.

SEPTEMBER 19

The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host its 90 Minute

Breakfast Boost from 7 to 8:45 a.m. at the Costa Mesa Country Club.

The club is at 1701 Golf Course Drive. $17, or $12 if prepaid. Call

for reservations. (714) 885-9090.

SEPTEMBER 20

The first Country Western

Hoedown, hosted by the Costa Mesa Senior Center, will be held from

4 to 8 p.m. at the center. The hoedown will include two-stepping,

line dancing and a catered barbecue dinner. The center is at 695 W.

19th St. $9, or $4 for members. Call for reservations. (949)

645-2356.

SEPTEMBER 25

The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host a business

after-hours mixer from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Plum’s Cafe and

Catering in Costa Mesa. The cafe is at 369 E. 17th St. $10, or free

for members. (714) 885-9090.

OCTOBER 5

The Harbor Heritage Run and

Fitness Fair will return to Newport Beach today. The 16-year

event, hosted by Newport Harbor High School, will include a 5K

Feature Race, a 2K Fun Run/Walk and a Kid’s Klassic race.

Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. followed by races starting at 8,

8:30, 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. The school is at 16th St. between Dover Dr.

and Irvine Ave. Free. (949) 515-6611 or www.kathyloperevents.com/hhr.

OCTOBER 19

As part of its annual fund-raising, the Costa Mesa Senior Center

will host a Monte Carlo night with the Bob Whit Trio (formerly of the

Platters) from 7 to 11 p.m. at the center. The evening will include

gaming, blackjack, craps, poker, a silent and live auction, and a

gourmet Chinese dinner. The center is at 695 W. 19th St. Call for

reservations. (949) 645-2356.

ONGOING

Interfaith couples with one

Jewish partner are invited to participate in a discussion group at

the Jewish Family Service of Orange County office. The group is

geared toward dealing with issues between interfaith couples, such as

raising children, observing holidays, symbols in the home and

relationships with extended families. The cost is $45 per couple for

three sessions. Preregistration is required. Call to schedule date

and time. The office is at 250 E. Baker St., Suite G, Costa Mesa.

(714) 445-4950.

Women 50 and older may be

part of a discussion group coordinated by Jewish Family Services

to address issues such as anxiety, depression, relationships,

loneliness and family that meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays at the

agency offices, 250 E. Baker St., Suite G, Costa Mesa.

Preregistration required. (714) 445-4950.

Friends of the Newport Beach Public Library Used Book Store are

asking for patrons to donate books to replenish the dwindling stock.

Books may be left at any of the three branch libraries at Balboa,

Mariners, or Corona del Mar, or in the book closet next to the

Friends Book Store at 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. All hardcover

and paperback donations, with the exception of magazines and law

books, will be accepted and are tax deductible. (949) 759-9667.

The Braille Institute offers free computer classes to people with

fading vision who have difficulty seeing the computer screen. The

Oasis Center at 800 Marguerite Ave., Corona del Mar, offers six

sessions. Call to sign up for classes. (714) 821-5000.

A spiritual care class meets at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays at 3400

Irvine Ave., Suite 114, Newport Beach. Call to reserve a seat. (949)

263-1462.

The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host networkers luncheon

meetings Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Costa Mesa

Country Club. The cost is $13. The club is at 1701 Golf Course Drive,

Costa Mesa. (714) 885-9090.

A brain tumor support group meets the first and third Thursdays

each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hoag Cancer Center at Hoag

Hospital, 1 Hoag Drive, Newport Beach. Free. Registration not

required. The group is designed to help patients and their families

understand and cope with the illness. (949) 574-6232.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian

Church hosts a mental illness support group from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Sundays in Dierenfield Hall C at 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach.

(949) 574-2236.

The Jewish Family Service of Orange County sponsors a discussion

group focusing on concerns and responsibilities of adult children and

their parents from 6 to 7 p.m. two Tuesdays a month at the Jewish

Family Service office at 250 E. Baker St., Suite G, Costa Mesa. $10

per person, per session. Preregistration required. (714) 445-4950.

The Jewish Family Service of Orange County has a weekly parenting

support group to help parents learn strategies for successful

parenting and helping them deal with the feelings and behavior of

their children. The group meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays at

Jewish Family Service, 250 E. Baker St., Suite G, Costa Mesa. The

group will cover topics about managing anger, anxiety and peer

pressure children experience. Preregistration required. (714)

445-4950.

The Costa Mesa Senior Center has ballroom dancing with live music

from the Costa Mesa Music Makers from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. every Tuesday night at 695 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. $4. (949) 548-3884.

Jewish Family Service of Orange County sponsors an ongoing healing

support group for the chronically ill. The purpose is to provide

participants with emotional and spiritual support to manage illness

and its consequences. The group meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Jewish

Family Service, 250 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa. Attendance is free, but

registration is required. (714) 445-4950.

Scrabble Club No. 350 meets from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursdays at Borders

Books, Music & Cafe at South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St. in Costa

Mesa. $3. New players are welcome. (949) 206-9822.

The Coin and Stamp Club meets from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays at the

Oasis Senior Center. New members interested in trading, buying and

selling stamps and coins are being sought to join these informal

meetings. There are no fees required. (949) 644-3244.